IP Library Granted Patent US 12663618
Granted Patent B2
US 12663618 · App. 18/885,680 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Zoom dual-aperture camera with folded lens

Inventors: Gal Shabtay (Tel Aviv, IL); Ephraim Goldenberg (Tel Aviv, IL); Gal Avivi (Tel Aviv, IL); Gil Bachar (Tel Aviv, IL)
Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
G02B13/0065G02B7/09G02B7/102G02B13/009G02B13/02G02B13/04H04N23/45H04N23/54H04N23/55H04N23/57H04N23/67H04N23/90
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12663618
App. No.
18/885,680
Filed
Sep 15, 2024
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2638
USPC
348/262
Abstract

Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.

Claims (20)

1 . A folded camera, comprising: a lens module comprising a lens with a plurality of N lens elements L i , 1≤i≤N; a first reflecting element that folds light from a first optical path to a second optical path; and an image sensor, wherein the lens elements are designed to have respective diameters that do not substantially exceed a lens aperture diameter, and wherein a camera module height of the folded camera is smaller than 1.25×(1+the lens aperture diameter), wherein each lens element L i has a respective optical height H i defining a maximal optically used diameter of the lens element L i , wherein a first lens element L1 is closest to an object and has an optical height H 1 , and wherein H i ≤H 1 for 2≤i≤N.

2 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor has an image sensor height measured along an axis parallel to the first optical path, and wherein the image sensor height is larger than H 1 .

3 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein all of the plurality of N lens elements have a common lens optical axis.

4 . The folded camera of claim 3 , wherein the second optical path is parallel to the common lens optical axis.

5 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the second optical path is perpendicular to the first optical path.

6 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded camera exhibits a percentage of <25% blocked light for all viewing angles.

7 . The folded camera of claim 1 , further comprising a second reflecting element that folds light from the second optical path to a third optical path between the lens module and the image sensor, wherein the third optical path is parallel to the first optical path.

8 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the lens module has an effective focal length EFL between 8 mm and 30 mm.

9 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the lens module has an F number F# and an effective focal length EFL, and wherein the lens aperture diameter equals EFL/F#.

10 . The folded camera of claim 9 , wherein the F#<3.

11 . The folded camera of claim 9 , wherein the F#≤2.9.

12 . The folded camera of claim 9 , wherein the F#≤2.75.

13 . The folded camera of claim 9 , wherein the F# is in the range of 2-3.

14 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor has an image sensor size larger than 4.5 mm×3.35 mm.

15 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of N lens elements comprises 3 to 5 lens elements.

16 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor has a sensor size S that fulfills ¼″≤S≤⅓″.

17 . The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the camera is included in a mobile device.

18 . The folded camera of claim 17 , wherein the mobile device further includes an upright camera.

19 . The folded camera of claim 17 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

20 . The folded camera of claim 18 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.